City of Lawrence

Recycling and Resource Conservation Advisory Board

May 10th, 2006 Meeting Minutes

MEMBERS PRESENT:	Aimee Stewart, Daniel Poull, Cindy Strecker, John Craft, Marie Stockett,
MEMBERS ABSENT:	Kevin Dobbs, Laura Routh, Shannon Criss, Dickie Heckler, Chris Cobb
STAFF PRESENT:	Mollie Mangerich
PUBLIC PRESENT:	None

1 Approval of Meeting Minutes

Daniel Poull made the motion that April Meeting Minutes be approved as amended. Motion seconded by John Craft. Motion approved unanimously.

Action to be taken: Staff will amend April Minutes as noted and resubmit to Board and forward to the City Commission through staff.

2 Pesticide Free Parks – Marie Stockett

Marie updated the Board on progress made towards Pesticide Free Parks established in Lawrence through the Parks and Recreation Division. See http://www.lprd.org/parks/pesticidefree.shtml for additional information

· There are 34 pesticide free parks in the Lawrence area

· 33 are considered “low profile” parks

· 1 is considered “high profile” (Buford Watson Jr. “Train” Park)

In May 2005, the Lawrence City Commission requested the Parks and Recreation Department to select a park to conduct a pilot program, maintaining it as a pesticide-free area for a one-year period. Lawrence Parks and Recreation staff chose Watson Park in Downtown Lawrence.

During this time, the department will experiment with non-pesticide products to manage weeds, insects and fungi in the park. Marie has coordinated the volunteer network to help manage these spaces. Volunteers will assist with the park by weeding the flower and shrub beds.

In addition to Watson Park, Park and Recreation began managing the following parks as pesticide free starting in the summer of 2005. Marie provide a list of the parks to the Board Members present:

With the one year review period nearing, Marie asked the Board to submit a letter in support of continuing and expanding the Pesticide Free Park management program in Lawrence.

Discussion: Lawrence Parks and Recreation could expand and sustain Pesticide Free Parks by a) expanding volunteer base; b) subcontract with a lawn care/landscaping company who used pesticide-free management practices; and/or; c) hire a Part Time crew to weed the targeted park areas.

Motion: Marie Stockett made the motion that the RRCAB submit a letter to the City Commissioners supporting and expanding the Pesticide Free Parks program in Lawrence.

Motion Seconded: Daniel Poull

Motion passed unanimously.

Action to be taken: Marie will draft a memo for the Board to review.

Marie also provided flyers to the Board regarding the upcoming event, “Edible Weed Fest” on June 3; 9:00 – Noon at Buford Watson Jr. Park.

Subcommittee Reports

A. Energy Conservation Subcommittee

The Energy Conservation Subcommittee did not meet.

Action to be taken: Cindy Strecker will follow up with Shannon Criss regarding finding a LEED-certified architect who could speak to the Lawrence Public Library Advisory Board regarding benefits of including green building concepts into construction projects.

B. Recycling Subcommittee:

The RRCAB received minutes from the April 19, 2006 meeting of the Recycling Subcommittee. The next meeting of the subcommittee will be Tuesday, May 17^th, 5:30 p.m. at the Solid Waste Annex North facility, 320 NE Industrial Lane.

· Laura Routh will be providing Board Members with a draft of memo requesting the City look at different methodologies for increasing recycling in Lawrence.

4. 2006 Goals Setting Session

Staff communicated to the Board, that the Solid Waste Division would reimburse Carol Nalbandian for her services to facilitate a goal setting session for the Advisory Board.

Aimee Stewart will coordinate with Carol Nalbandian on the following dates for such a session(s) to occur:

August 9^th 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

August 10^th 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.

Location: SWAN facility.

Waste Reduction and Recycling will provide snacks and beverages.

The Board agreed that no regular RRCAB meeting be held in August due to the time devoted to the Goal Setting Session(s).

Staff reported to the Board that Dave Corliss, Interim City Manager has been rescheduled to attend the June 14^th Board Meeting to discuss role and function of advisory boards within the City of Lawrence.

5. Waste Reduction and Recycling Staff Report – Staff

Staff provided Board with summary of monthly activities of WRR staff and program updates.

6. Miscellaneous

Lawrence Cooperative Day Care School will vermicompost food waste at their school. Staff donated large worm bin to their organization for this purpose.

Daniel Poull told Board about recent tour of Bowersock Dam hydropower dam and Zephyr Green Tags program available to Lawrence rate payers (commercial and residential).

John Craft told of recent visit to Goshen College (IN) campus to tour their LEED “Platinum” certified Environmental Education campus. For more details visit their website: http://www.goshen.edu/merrylea/news/dedication48.html

Meeting adjourned: 7:35 PM.